21 August 2009
It might have been the hottest day of the year so far, but more than 60 local residents, politicians, charities and other stakeholders from across Epsom and the surrounding areas attended an event at Epsom Hospital on Wednesday night (19 August) to help shape a vision for the future of the hospital.
The event, which is officially called an 'options appraisal workshop', involved guests completing a series of theoretical tasks which will help reduce a long-list of 49 options for the future of the hospital down to a short-list of approximately five or six. These options will be studied in more detail and will dictate how and where the Trust invests up to £70 million into the site.
Peter Coles, interim Chief Executive, said: "I would like to thank all of those people who attended our event. Their input, feedback and honesty were appreciated and will really help as we take forward our plans for the hospital.
"This event is the first step to a major multi-million pound investment into the site, helping to ensure we have the right buildings and infrastructure in place to meet the future needs of the people of Epsom and surrounding areas.
"An important part of the short-listing process is removing those options that local people would think aren't acceptable or wouldn't work. The options on the short-list will be researched in more detail, before being brought back for further discussion and analysis."
As part of the event, the delegates had to complete a number of questionnaires. The results will now be analysed and a list of the options short-listed will be published in the next couple of weeks.
John Bland is a local resident and attended the event. He said: "I'd like to congratulate the Trust for a very professional and well run meeting. I'd also like to applaud the Trust for trying to get as many interested parties involved at this early stage when, by rights, they could have excluded us until later on in the process. I believe that a continuing inclusive approach will assist in ensuring a positive outcome for the rest of the process moving forward."
Bess Harding attended the event as Founder of the Epsom Medical Equipment Fund. She said: "Epsom Hospital offers an excellent service to the local community, but the site is getting old and definitely needs additional investment on top of what the Trust puts in each year.
"I was very pleased to be invited to the short-listing event and found it to be both interesting and informative. I am looking forward to seeing the results and to being further involved as the vision for Epsom Hospital is taken forward."
The Trust received a large number of calls and emails from people who were interested in attending the event.
Peter Coles continued said: "The people of Epsom and surrounding areas are, understandably, very interested in the future of their local hospital and we recognise that not everyone who wanted to attend the event could be invited.
"However, it is important to note that it is just the first of many events we will host for local people to get involved. The next meeting will be a full public meeting held in Epsom in November.
"Further details about this event will be published shortly and we will make sure that those people who couldn't attend last night's meeting get a personal invite."
It is anticipated that this initial stage of the 'visioning' process (known as the strategic outline case) will be completed by October. Subject to appropriate approvals and further engagement with local people, it is hoped that work on the site could start in early 2013.
